398 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



1st. — Laniadae, Slirlkes. — These are, typically, birds chiefly of 

 inoderate size, with the beak strong and compressed, and the tooth 

 of the upper mandible well developed. They live chiefly on 

 insects, also on small birds and mammals, and take their prey either 

 on the ground, or on the branches and leaves of trees, a few 

 catching insects on the wing. 



2nd. — Muscicapid(E, Flycatchers, — These are birds of chiefly small 

 size ; their bill is typically much depressed, and broad, with well 

 developed rictal bristles ; and the tarsi are feeble. They mostly 

 seize insects in the air, a few descending to the ground, or 

 picking them off leaves. 



ord. — Merub'dcB, Thrushes. — These are, typically, ground-feeders, 

 hopping, and picking up snails, worms, and insects, and also 

 at times berries. Their bill is of moderate length and strength, 

 not depressed, but rather compressed, the rictal bristles not much 

 developed. The tarsi are moderately developed, strong and length- 

 ened in most. 



Ath. — Brachifpodidce. — Short-legged Thrushes, including the 

 Bulbuls and Orioles. These are arboreal birds, with short legs 

 and feet, and live chiefly on fruit. 



5th. — Si/lviadte, Viavhlers. — These are mtistly small birds, with 

 more or less slender bills ; moderate or long tarsi ; and by far the 

 greatest number of them feed on insects, some on the ground, 

 others upon trees. 



Gth. — Ampelida. — This group comprises, according to my views, 

 a considerable number of birds of somewhat various structure 

 and some of the members of which have been bandied about a 

 good deal, owing to the uncertainty of their position. I include 

 in it, of Indian birds, the Pari, the Leiotlirix group, and some 

 of their aflSnes, as Pternthius, and perhaps the Accentorince ; also the 

 true Ampelinoi, such as Cochoa ; whilst, of foreign groups, we 

 must add the PlpridcB and Mniotiltidce of America, the Pardaloti and 

 Paclu/cepliali of the Australian region, and perhaps some others, 

 as will be mentioned when I treat of the group in detail. I 

 shall only remark here, that they are the most anomalous, as to 

 colours, of the whole dentirostral group, many of them exhibiting 

 great variety and beauty. They are very arboreal, and their feet 



